The Smiley Smile Message Board

I'm really probably the worst person to start this thread as pouring over my favourites from the year I realise I haven't listened (or at least liked) that much new stuff. Maybe I'm getting old. Hopefully I'll pick up some tips from other posters!

New albums:

MGMT - MGMT
Foxygen - We Are the 21st Century Ambassadors of Peace & Magic
Daft Punk - Random Access Memories
Kurt Vile - Wakin On A Pretty Daze
Washed Out - Paracosm
Mikal Cronin - MCII
My Bloody Valentine - MBV
Jonathan Wilson - Fanfare


Reissues:

Capt beefheart - Safe As Milk (Mono) Sundazed
Bob Dylan - Another Self Portrait
Beach Boys - Made In California 
Don Bikoff - Celestial Explosion
Paul McCartney - Wings Over America

I've got nothing. I can't think of a new album from this year that I've listened to, because I've listened to no new albums lol.
I heard Paul McCartney's NEW is a great album, but I can't rate that as I have never listened to it.
As for new box sets from this year, Made in California is the best IMHO.

I've only bought one 2013 released album, of Montreal's Lousy With Sylvianbriar. It is excellent.

Favorite albums this year have been these:

Adam Green & Binki Shapiro, S/T
Bonnie Prince Billy & Dawn McCarthy, What the Brothers Sang
Earl Sweatshirt, Doris
Janelle Monae, The Electric Lady
Kacey Musgraves, Same Trailer, Different Park
Lady Lamb the Beekeeper, Ripley Pine
MGMT, S/T
The Milk Carton Kids, The Ash & Clay
Of Montreal, Lousy With Sylvianbriar

Most disappointing for me compared to my expectations were Okkervil River, Iron & Wine, Eels.

Somewhere in between (liked some songs) were McCartney, Pistol Annies, Xenia Rubinos, Torres, Eleanor Friedberger, Christopher Owens, Boy, and Arcade Fire.

There is some good stuff on The Electric Lady (love the prince collaboration) but I prefer her previous album.

Admittedly I don't have much space in my life for a lot of new music, but this year's notable albums for me were:
David Bowie- The Next Day (his best since the 80s)
Todd Rundgren - State (his best since Liars)
The Heavy Blinkers- Health (their best ever)

Tegan and Sara – Heartthrob
Arcade Fire – Reflektor
Elvis Costello and The Roots – Wise Up Ghost
David Bowie – The Next Day
Phoenix – Bankrupt!
Paul McCartney – New

Jeez, this thread makes me realize how little new music I buy.

I did buy this album, though. S'pretty good.

Also, I really like Shadows by Maston.

For reissues, my favorites would have to be Another Self Portrait and Lee Hazlewood Industries: There's a Dream I've Been Saving.
Oh, and MiC, of course.

Love from London by Robyn Hitchcock, Electric by Richard Thompson, Tooth and Nail by Billy Bragg. Psychedelic Pill by Neil Young. Its not been a bad year but New by McCartney was a dissapointment to me.

Holy f....!  :o The Heavy Blinkers finally got around to finish their follow-up to 'The Night and I are Still so Young'? Fantastic! Buying on itunes NOW!

Thanks for the (unintentional) heads-up!

Years ago, I would sit down with friends and compile our lists of the top 10 albums, singles, etc of the year. Many years, it was hard to limit it to 10 each. Now it would be hard to find 10 each.

Wow, I've really not listened to many new albums this past year. The best ones I can recall are:

Prefab Sprout - Crimson Red
Glen Campbell - See You There
Lloyd Cole - Standards
Richard Thompson - Electric

I spend so much time catching up I can never find the time to be current :/

 Another new Glen Campbell? I figured GHOST ON THE CANVAS was his swansong.

 Didn't hear a lot of new albums in 2013 after enjoying several in 2012. I liked Bill Callahan's DREAM RIVER. This thread is making me feel middle-aged and out of it!

A couple of 2013 favourites, all of which I recommend should be given a chance:


Sigur Rós - Kveikur

Woodkid - The Golden Age

Uncle Acid and the Deadbeats - Mind Control

Serafina Steer - The Moths Are Real

Rogue Wave - Nightingale Floors

Portugal. The Man - Evil Friends

of Montreal -  Lousy With Sylvianbriar

I Am Kloot - Let It All In

Gold Panda - Half Of Where You Live

Frightened Rabbit - Pedestrian Verse

Deerhunter - Monomania

Camera Obscura - Desire Lines

Black Sabbath - 13

Agnes Obel - Aventine

I'm really digging the Of Montreal album. It's a good mix of tender and tough.I was a fan of Satanic Panic and Sunlandic Twins but not so much lately. Good to hear him back on track with a cool album.

End of Weed by M.C. Peace is one of my favorites from last year.   It's always in my rotation. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ng08361e9cI&list=PLb6yLcHJDBlEL4t1qWUu9SfJojjyQHdDQ

Great, isn't it? My understanding is that he's doing (at least) one more album with this band. So you may have one more you'll like anyway.

Hissing Fauna through Paralytic Stalks is Kevin's strongest era. His most mature and accomplished songwriting are on those records. Skeletal Lamping in particular is a tour-de-force. I recently got Thecontrollersphere EP and have been enjoying it immensely. How could a nerdy white guy ever write funk music so successfully?

I know we've discussed it before so I won't get into it again, but isn't it funny how people can hold the exact opposite opinions about the same music? (I mean, I like Hissing Fauna A LOT, Skeletal Lamping somewhat, and False Priest, but I think Paralytic Stalks is an overindulgent, unfocused mess, and agree with krablaw that SPITA and Sunlandic are great, as well as the new one.)

Julia Holter - Loud City Song

Well I think Sunlandic Twins is ridiculously half-baked, with too many pointless interludes (perhaps explaining the presence of the EP -- he knew something wasn't right).

I think I might like Paralytic Stalks more than False Priest. False Priest has got so much screechy falsetto, cryptic lyrics, and annoying sawtooth synths. The production also has a bad aftertaste. Also Coquet Coquette plodddds. Maybe I like Skeletal Lamping because I find 2 minute vignettes more enjoyable than "fleshed out/stretched out" 4 minute songs like the contemporary fashion.